Tourisme Montréal Blog » summerhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog
Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:13:05 +0000en-UShourly1It’s terrasse season in Montréalhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/its-terrasse-season-in-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/its-terrasse-season-in-montreal/#commentsMon, 13 Apr 2015 20:33:51 +0000Jamie O'Mearahttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=110960In Montréal, we do things – and say things – differently. Which is why a corner store is called a dep (from the French “dépanneur”), the subway is referred to as the métro, and outdoor patios are known as terrasses. For that added “je ne sais quoi” to your Montréal “joie de vivre,” here’s your guide to 10 amazing places for outdoor summer sippin’. Terrasse Nelligan: Seeing that Hôtel Nelligan is basically flawless, it makes sense that this Old Montréal boutique hotel’s rooftop terrasse is of equal quality, and comfy and casual too. Imagine unimpeded views of both Old Montréal and the Old Port, as well as the savoury scent of freshly cooked fish and meats on the venue’s outdoor grill. Auberge du Vieux-Port: Any discussion of picture-perfect Old Montréal terrasses would be remiss if it didn’t include the equally awesome Terrasse sur L’Auberge (atop Auberge du Vieux-Port), with its similarly inspired views of the St. Lawrence River and Old Montréal. This rooftop lays claim to being the best place to watch the annual fireworks competition. Irish Embassy Pub & Grill Faith and Begorrah! This traditional Irish pub is a hit with both visitors and happy gaggles of regulars alike.... / Read More →

]]>In Montréal, we do things – and say things – differently. Which is why a corner store is called a dep (from the French “dépanneur”), the subway is referred to as the métro, and outdoor patios are known as terrasses. For that added “je ne sais quoi” to your Montréal “joie de vivre,” here’s your guide to 10 amazing places for outdoor summer sippin’.

Terrasse Nelligan: Seeing that Hôtel Nelligan is basically flawless, it makes sense that this Old Montréal boutique hotel’s rooftop terrasse is of equal quality, and comfy and casual too. Imagine unimpeded views of both Old Montréal and the Old Port, as well as the savoury scent of freshly cooked fish and meats on the venue’s outdoor grill.

Auberge du Vieux-Port: Any discussion of picture-perfect Old Montréal terrasses would be remiss if it didn’t include the equally awesome Terrasse sur L’Auberge (atop Auberge du Vieux-Port), with its similarly inspired views of the St. Lawrence River and Old Montréal. This rooftop lays claim to being the best place to watch the annual fireworks competition.Irish Embassy Pub & Grill Faith and Begorrah! This traditional Irish pub is a hit with both visitors and happy gaggles of regulars alike. And its expansive outdoor acreage – terrasses in front and back – is a rarity in downtown Montréal. Indeed, its sprawling, tree-lined beer garden (the back patio) is ideal for chillin’ and swillin’.

Le Saint-Sulpice Café-Bar: Le Saint-Sulpice on Saint-Denis Street in the heart of the Latin Quarter boasts one of the biggest and liveliest terrasses in town. A leafy canopy, central fountain and ambient lighting contribute to the popularity of this Montréal mainstay.Society for Arts and Technology [SAT]: Not content just to be a hub for innovative digital music and technology, the SAT is also home to a trendy third-floor terrasse. Large gathering tables and comfy couches, not to mention the imaginative, high-quality cuisine courtesy of the FoodLab initiative (and its rockin’ outdoor grill) keep the crowds coming back.

Newtown: Although this spot is well-known for its founder, Montréal F1 racing legend Jacques Villeneuve, what might be a surprise for some is that this inviting, Mediterranean-style resto/lounge also has an attractive wood-decked rooftop terrasse (called Notre Terrasse) with a commanding view of all the Crescent Street action below.

Sky Pub: No mention of top-tier terrasses can exclude the much-celebrated rooftop of Sky Pub, on Sainte-Catherine Street East in the heart of the Gay Village. The club’s perma-party vibe gets a big helping hand from a mini-pool, Jacuzzi and sizable bar famous for its sangria.

JARGO Chophouse and Mixologie/Hotel 10: JARGO, a new concept in the boutique property Hotel 10, is where comfort and cool come together over great steaks and inventive drinks, with a sprawling, 100-seat terrasse to match. Located atop the historic Godin building, the patio, which overlooks Saint-Laurent Blvd., has a transparent canopy for all-weather enjoyment.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/its-terrasse-season-in-montreal/feed/2Things to Do in Montreal: August 22-28http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-22-28/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-22-28/#commentsThu, 21 Aug 2014 18:44:07 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=80326The final days of August show no signs of summer activities slowing down in Montreal: from food festivals and fresh market fare to film festivals and live rock and electro shows, the city keeps on shining under the sun… (food, markets & parks) Local restaurants and international chefs collaborate on the annual Omnivore World Tour – the food festival runs to August 25, including the not-to-be-missed Omnivorious Party at the SAT on August 23. Walk the Main during the car-free Saint-Laurent Street Fair all weekend – shop, eat, drink, hear live music and see art during the Mix’Arts festival. In Old Montreal, step back in time during Pointe-à-Callière’s 18th Century Public Market, a fun blend of hands-on Quebec history and locally-made food and crafts, open all weekend. Visit the Montreal Botanical Garden on August 23 and 24 not only to see an abundance of plant life but to hear live music and, on Sunday, see Lucie Grégoire dance in the Perennial Garden. Downtown at Place Émilie-Gamelin, find the cuisine you crave courtesy of several gourmet Montreal food trucks on August 28 and walk through the urban sculpture garden August 21-26. Walk over to nearby Peace Park (next to the SAT) on August 26... / Read More →

The final days of August show no signs of summer activities slowing down in Montreal: from food festivals and fresh market fare to film festivals and live rock and electro shows, the city keeps on shining under the sun…

(food, markets & parks) Local restaurants and international chefs collaborate on the annual Omnivore World Tour – the food festival runs to August 25, including the not-to-be-missed Omnivorious Party at the SAT on August 23. Walk the Main during the car-free Saint-Laurent Street Fair all weekend – shop, eat, drink, hear live music and see art during the Mix’Arts festival. In Old Montreal, step back in time during Pointe-à-Callière’s 18th Century Public Market, a fun blend of hands-on Quebec history and locally-made food and crafts, open all weekend. Visit the Montreal Botanical Garden on August 23 and 24 not only to see an abundance of plant life but to hear live music and, on Sunday, see Lucie Grégoire dance in the Perennial Garden. Downtown at Place Émilie-Gamelin, find the cuisine you crave courtesy of several gourmet Montreal food trucks on August 28 and walk through the urban sculpture garden August 21-26. Walk over to nearby Peace Park (next to the SAT) on August 26 for the now-legal Skate Jam, featuring skate comps, DJs, food and more. And hear lots of live music, participate in kid-friendly workshops, sample food-truck fare, and buy locally-made art, home decor, preserves and more at Mile End’s Marché des Possibles, open Friday to Sunday at the corner of Bernard and Jeanne-Mance.

(seen & heard) See hundreds of international and Canadian feature films and shorts at the 38th Montreal World Film Festival, August 21 to September 1 at theatres in downtown Montreal – the fest opens with prolific French filmmaker Claude Lelouch’s Salaud, on t’aime, continues its free outdoor Cinema Under the Stars film screenings at Place des Festivals, and shines the spotlight on new Italian and Japanese films, among many others. Also see politically-minded documentaries outdoors during Cinema Politica’s screenings at Peace Park next to the SAT on August 26. Meanwhile, the astounding World Press Photo Montreal exhibition, opens August 27 at Marché Bonsecours, showcasing the best in professional media photography over the past year. And Montreal’s Goethe Institute gives us a sneak peek of the upcoming Montreal Biennale with public art-and-architecture exhibition The Fountain House, by German collective raumlaborberlin, opening on the evening of August 27 in the Quartier des Spectacles.

(eye-catching spectacle) Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King brings Disney’s animal safari story to the stage in spectacular song and dance, at Place des Arts to September 7. Montreal’s answer to any fashion crisis, the Festival Mode & Design, keeps walking the outdoor catwalk to August 23 at Place des Festivals. Whether you’re a die-hard anime fan or just curious, drop by the OtakuThon anime convention to peruse anime-related materials, check out the cosplay events and meet some of the stars of the genre, August 22-24 at Palais des Congrès. And Thai Boxing comes to Montreal once more for Victory Muay Thai 6: Bad Blood, featuring MMA fighters and more in the ring at Club Soda on August 23.

(live music) Friday night sees Spanish DJ and producer John Talabot at the SAT, while the ever-talented Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars come to Montreal to feel the love at Sala Rossa, Alvarius B. and Sam Shalabi play La Vitrola, and one of the hardest-working Metallica covers band in the country, Alcoholica, gets wild at Club Soda. On Saturday, August 23, make your way over to Parc Jean-Drapeau for the The Carnivores Tour with Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars and AFI, check out the Live Talents of Africa 2014 Concert, featuring Fadji Di and many more artists at Cabaret Mile End, hear more ukelele than you can shake a stick at during Montréal Uke Fest 2014, rock with Midnight Masses at Quai des Brumes, dance along to the indie-pop of Foxtrott at the French ou Meurs french-kiss party (!) at Belmont, while Suuns take the stage with L.A. Foster at the Passovah Festival at Casa Del Popolo – the fest also features a massive roster of local bands on Friday night, an afternoon of music at Resonance Café on Saturday, followed by a night of hip hop and underground urban dance music at Club Lambi, and even more bands throughout the day and night on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Piknic Electronik brings Vancouver duo Bob Moses, Australia’s DJ Dreems and more to Parc Jean-Drapeau, and later that night We Are Wolves rock the Corona. On the other end of the spectrum, Alice in Chains stage a rock spectacle at Metropolis. The Montreal Jewish Music Festival also begins August 24, with all kinds of traditional and contemporary music and related activities to August 28. And start the weekend early on Thursday night with more danceworthy electronic music from The Hacker, DJ Mini and Haffenfold at the SAT. Meanwhile, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers free fall into the Bell Centre.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-22-28/feed/0Things to Do in Montreal: August 15-21http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-15-21/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-15-21/#commentsThu, 14 Aug 2014 17:57:05 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=79629Music makes the city move this week – choose from reggae and electro festivals, classical and rock concerts, and tunes that go hand-in-hand with Montreal Pride, catwalk fashion shows, family-friendly carnivals, and delicious locally-made food. (festivals under the sun) The Montreal International Reggae Festival makes sunny days even brighter this weekend, August 15-17 at the Old Port of Montreal, with music from Marcia Griffiths, Maxi Priest, I-Octane and many more Jamaican, Caribbean, American and Canadian artists. Meanwhile, EDM and urban music festival Île Soniq turns Parc Jean-Drapeau into one big outdoor club August 15-16, featuring music from Tiësto, Iggy Azalea, Jesse Rose, Laidback Luke, Infected Mushroom, Juicy J and dozens more. Keep dancing at Montreal Pride 2014, to August 17 at various venues – don’t miss Community Day on August 16 on Ste-Catherine between St-Hubert and Papineau, and the Pride Parade on Sunday at 1pm along Rene-Levesque Blvd. And the Festival Mode & Design, August 20 to 23, brings high fashion to outdoor stages at Place des Festivals, showcasing the fabulous stylings of Montreal and Canadian designers. (food city) The annual Omnivore World Tour starts up August 21 with its Maudits Soupers (Damn Dinners) events where local chefs pair their culinary skills with... / Read More →

Music makes the city move this week – choose from reggae and electro festivals, classical and rock concerts, and tunes that go hand-in-hand with Montreal Pride, catwalk fashion shows, family-friendly carnivals, and delicious locally-made food.

(festivals under the sun)The Montreal International Reggae Festival makes sunny days even brighter this weekend, August 15-17 at the Old Port of Montreal, with music from Marcia Griffiths, Maxi Priest, I-Octane and many more Jamaican, Caribbean, American and Canadian artists. Meanwhile, EDM and urban music festival Île Soniq turns Parc Jean-Drapeau into one big outdoor club August 15-16, featuring music from Tiësto, Iggy Azalea, Jesse Rose, Laidback Luke, Infected Mushroom, Juicy J and dozens more. Keep dancing at Montreal Pride 2014, to August 17 at various venues – don’t miss Community Day on August 16 on Ste-Catherine between St-Hubert and Papineau, and the Pride Parade on Sunday at 1pm along Rene-Levesque Blvd. And the Festival Mode & Design, August 20 to 23, brings high fashion to outdoor stages at Place des Festivals, showcasing the fabulous stylings of Montreal and Canadian designers.

(food city) The annual Omnivore World Tour starts up August 21 with its Maudits Soupers (Damn Dinners) events where local chefs pair their culinary skills with those of honoured guest chefs – the food festival runs to August 25 at several local restaurants and at the SAT. Sample some of Little Italy’s cuisine during Italian Week, to August 17, along with music in the park, art exhibitions and other cultural activities. More food abounds at the city’s outdoor markets, from the farm-fresh offerings at Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market to downtown Montreal’s Village Éphémère just east of the Jacques-Cartier bridge (near Papineau metro station), closing its season on Saturday with food, drink and entertainment, and Mile End’s Marché des Possibles, open Friday to Sunday. Fresh is also where it’s at when it comes to the city’s best seafood – Montreal’s oyster bars know how to do it right. Or add some fresh air to a delightful meal on a sunny restaurant patio. Top it all off with some of the city’s best gourmet, all-natural ice cream.

(all-ages entertainment) All the grand song and colourful spectacle of Disney’s The Lion King comes to life on stage in Montreal starting August 19 at Place des Arts. But before that begins, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra offers a weekend of affordable classical music at Place des Arts – the OSM’s Classical Spree includes concerts of Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place, numerous chamber music performances, several free activities and shows for kids, and more. Also over the weekend, circus centre La Tohu becomes home to the 10th edition of Falla, a weekend-long festival inspired by the Valencia carnival in Spain, featuring family activities during the day, a Balkan Beat party on Friday night and reggae on Saturday followed by a pyrotechnics concert and the celebratory burning of a 10-metre-high wooden and paper sculpture, at La Tohu. Life-sized dinosaurs walk the earth once more at multi-media spectacular Walking with Dinosaurs, featuring 10 different massive prehistoric creatures and the varied stories of their existence, at the Bell Centre, to August 17 (English-language show on August 17). Leap back into present-day life at the Montreal World Film Festival, screening new feature films and shorts from around the world, August 21-September 1. And on August 16, hop on your bike and head to the Pop Montreal Bike In (at Terrasse St-Ambroise on the Lachine Canal in St-Henri), to watch a free screening of 1970s cult classic Phantom of the Paradise at 9pm. Find even more things to do in our Family Guide to Summer.

(more live music) Start the weekend with the East Coast hip hop of Dipset main man Cam’ron, joined by Louie P, Ryan Playground, Grandbuda, Simahlak at Club Soda in a night of good-time Montreal mayhem. Whether you’ve spent the day at Île Soniq or not, spend Saturday night dancing at the afterparty at the SAT, with Popof, Vakkuum, Groj and Zepha, or melt along to the endearing indie-pop of Alvvays, with openers J Fernandez and Los, at La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent). Piknic Electronik celebrates another summer Sunday spent dancing outdoors – this week’s electro producers include J. Phlip, Moody Jones and more. At night, California folk-electro duo Made In Heights comes to town, with local openers Syngja, at Le Bleury. Tuesday turns to hard rock with Skid Row at the Corona Theatre with openers Dance Laury Dance, while UK-based genre-bending DJ and producer Mr. Scruff gets funky at Le Belmont. Aussie pop singer and Dancing with the Stars celeb Cody Simpson comes to town on Wednesday, August 20 at Metropolis. And Thursday, August 21 brings Frog Eyes, PS I Love You, Seoul and many more great Canadian bands to the Passovah Summer Festival 2014 at Cabaret Piccolo Rialto (5723 Parc) and Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), while Montreal’s The Damn Truth truly rock out at Café Campus.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-15-21/feed/0Your September 2014 To Doshttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/your-september-2014-to-dos/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/your-september-2014-to-dos/#commentsTue, 12 Aug 2014 12:07:18 +0000Isa Tousignanthttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=79265School is back and so is the frenetic fall schedule in this city bursting with arts and culture. So crack open your fresh notebooks, and note down these things to do! Start the month off with a good dose of the unexpected with the Escales Improbables festival, a performance festival which until September 11 will take visitors on adventures all around the city. See the world’s best photos – we’re talking the top 150 out of the 98,000 submitted entries – at the annual Montreal World Press Photo Exhibition at Marché Bonsecours, until September 28. Get your tummy ready: from September 1 to 7, it’s Le Burger Week! Restaurants across town try to outdo themselves as hundred, nay thousands, of ravenous meat eaters munch on patties of all shapes and sizes. The outdoor celebrations of Piknic Électronique continue all month, culminating into a final party on September 21, featuring A.B.U.Z., Joachim Pastor and Sébastien Léger, among others. September 4, 5 and 6, join the party along St-Denis and in the Quartier des Spectacles with OUMF, a free festival of film, dance, comedy, sports, visual arts and live music, including shows by BADBADNOTGOOD, Misteur Vallaire and Poirier. Starting September 5, Espace pour la vie... / Read More →

School is back and so is the frenetic fall schedule in this city bursting with arts and culture. So crack open your fresh notebooks, and note down these things to do!

Start the month off with a good dose of the unexpected with the Escales Improbables festival, a performance festival which until September 11 will take visitors on adventures all around the city.

See the world’s best photos – we’re talking the top 150 out of the 98,000 submitted entries – at the annual Montreal World Press Photo Exhibition at Marché Bonsecours, until September 28.

Get your tummy ready: from September 1 to 7, it’s Le Burger Week! Restaurants across town try to outdo themselves as hundred, nay thousands, of ravenous meat eaters munch on patties of all shapes and sizes.

The outdoor celebrations of Piknic Électronique continue all month, culminating into a final party on September 21, featuring A.B.U.Z., Joachim Pastor and Sébastien Léger, among others.

September 4, 5 and 6, join the party along St-Denis and in the Quartier des Spectacles with OUMF, a free festival of film, dance, comedy, sports, visual arts and live music, including shows by BADBADNOTGOOD, Misteur Vallaire and Poirier.

Starting September 5, Espace pour la vie at the Montreal Botanical Gardens gets an added shot of magic during the Gardens of Light event, which last all fall. See your favourite trails come to life at night with lanterns so creatively crafted, they’ll blow your mind.

Bonkers for bivalves? Slurp your way through the 50-plus participating restaurants and suppliers at Montreal’s Oysterfest on the weekend of September 6 and 7. All proceeds go towards aquatic sustainability.

Don’t miss the last of the Rendez-vous des Grands Orchestres series on the Esplanade of the Olympic Stadium, on Sundays September 14 and 21, when world-class musical shows are presented for free form 4 to 5:30 pm.

Get in character (literally) for the Montreal ComicCon, September 12 to 14, at the Palais des Congrès. This year’s highlights include a visit from Levar Burton, Gates McFadden and Denise Crosby (or Geordi Laforge, Dr. Beverly Crusher and Tasha Yar, as Star Trek: The Next Generation lovers know them).

Contemporary dance spills out into Montreal’s neighbourhoods from September 12 to 20 thanks to the Quartiers Danses Festival, which seeks to bring dance to new audiences. Don’t miss the opening night at Gesù amphitheatre, featuring Randy Glynn and The Company of Angels.

The streets of Mile End and beyond are the place to be from September 17 to 21, for another edition of Pop Montreal. This year there’s The Unicorns, Trust, Timber Timbre… and the list keeps growing!

From September 18 to 27, the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal launches a production of Leonce and Lena by Christian Spuck, a German-style Vaudevillian romp full of political satire.

Don’t miss the opening of a new show for the Opéra de Montréal, which from September 20 to 27 presents Verdi’s Nabucco, a story of heartbreak and betrayal. (Well, it is opera.)

The Montreal International Black Film Festival brings a quality program of films to the silver screen from September 23 to 28 that Montrealers might not otherwise have the chance to see, not to mention a space for cultural exploration and debate.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/your-september-2014-to-dos/feed/0Feel the (One) Love at Montreal Reggae Fest 2014http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/feel-the-one-love-at-montreal-reggae-fest-2014/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/feel-the-one-love-at-montreal-reggae-fest-2014/#commentsMon, 11 Aug 2014 17:44:35 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=79242Montreal makes its own chilled-out island vibe in August at the Montreal International Reggae Festival, adding the best in new and traditional reggae music to late-summer’s hot, sunny days. After last year’s 10th-anniversary blow-out weekend brought reggae legends Shaggy, Beenie Man and Morgan Heritage to Montreal, the 11th edition of the Montreal International Reggae Festival, August 15-17 outdoors at the Old Port of Montreal, follows up with Marcia Griffiths, Maxi Priest, I-Octane and many more Jamaican, Caribbean, American and Canadian artists who span the reggae spectrum. As well, the festival’s Old Port site not only boasts a state-of-the-art stage and sound system, but a marketplace, delicious Montreal-made Caribbean food and activities for kids. The festivities begin Friday night with mind-blowing warm-up music by high-energy Canadian talents Kaysha Lee, Chelsea Stuart, Nkrumah, Uncle Jonny and Ammoye, plus UK up-and-coming star C Block and more, followed by soulful headliners Maxi Priest – the best-selling British reggae artist comes to the fest to charm as always with much-loved chart-toppers and new songs from album Easy To Love – and incredible vocalist Etana, who blends Jamaican roots-reggae with a classic-pop sound. Saturday night gets the reggae fest crowd dancing to the tune of Grammy-winning Jamaican... / Read More →

Montreal makes its own chilled-out island vibe in August at the Montreal International Reggae Festival, adding the best in new and traditional reggae music to late-summer’s hot, sunny days.

After last year’s 10th-anniversary blow-out weekend brought reggae legends Shaggy, Beenie Man and Morgan Heritage to Montreal, the 11th edition of the Montreal International Reggae Festival, August 15-17 outdoors at the Old Port of Montreal, follows up with Marcia Griffiths, Maxi Priest, I-Octane and many more Jamaican, Caribbean, American and Canadian artists who span the reggae spectrum. As well, the festival’s Old Port site not only boasts a state-of-the-art stage and sound system, but a marketplace, delicious Montreal-made Caribbean food and activities for kids.

The festivities begin Friday night with mind-blowing warm-up music by high-energy Canadian talents Kaysha Lee, Chelsea Stuart, Nkrumah, Uncle Jonny and Ammoye, plus UK up-and-coming star C Block and more, followed by soulful headliners Maxi Priest– the best-selling British reggae artist comes to the fest to charm as always with much-loved chart-toppers and new songs from album Easy To Love – and incredible vocalist Etana, who blends Jamaican roots-reggae with a classic-pop sound.

Saturday night gets the reggae fest crowd dancing to the tune of Grammy-winning Jamaican dancehall superstar and festival favourite Sean Paul, along with new dancehall fave Kiprich, a member of Jamaican DJ collective The Alliance, the twerk-inducing beats of QQ, singer-songwriter and in-demand dancehall and hip-hop producer Demarco, international urban-influenced Caribbean music star and “Queen of Soca” Alison Hinds, and more music late into the night.

As always, festival Sunday closes on a hot note, this year bringing the Great Lady of Reggae herself, Marcia Griffiths to the Montreal stage, an artist who remains influential to the genre today, having started out as a back-up singer to Bob Marley in the ‘70s and quickly cemented her place as a star in her own right with hits including “Electric Boogie.” Sunday’s line-up also boasts Jamaican roots reggae and dancehall singer I-Octane in his first and much-anticipated appearance at the festival, prolific R&B-influenced reggae artist Sanchez, one of Jamaica’s latest and greatest hit-makers Zamunda, and a huge star of spiritually-rooted Rastafarian reggae, singer Luciano. With so many stand-out talents of the international reggae scene in Montreal for the Reggae Fest, it’s easy to simply dance your heart and soul out all weekend.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/feel-the-one-love-at-montreal-reggae-fest-2014/feed/0Things to Do in Montreal: August 8-14http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-8-14/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-8-14/#commentsMon, 11 Aug 2014 17:14:58 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=79048A slower summer vibe pervades the city in August, yet there’s still so much to do, from hard-rock and blues music festivals to world-class sports competitions to sampling the best in Montreal-made gourmet food. (walk on the wild side) Heavy Montréal takes over from last weekend’s Osheaga festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau – hear metal, heavy rock, skate-punk and more from bands the likes of Metallica, Twisted Sister and The Offspring, August 8 in the city and August 9-10 at the park. For a lower-key kind of music festival, head to family-friendly FestiBlues at Ahuntsic Park, August 7-10, featuring rock, blues and folk from Quebec talents. Dance, party, make friends, hear thoughtful lectures and maybe even march in the parade at fiercely wonderful Montreal Pride 2014, August 11-17. And, taking this week’s Montreal-gone-wild theme literally, dinosaurs come to life, or at least animatronic re-existence, once more in multi-media spectacular Walking with Dinosaurs returns even bigger than before to the Bell Centre August 13-17 (English-language shows on August 14 and 17). (cultural feasts) Experience the myriad fantastic flavours of Quebec-made fine food and drink at the Montreal Gourmand Festival, August 7-10 at the Old Port of Montreal. Take a stroll through Montreal’s Little Italy during Italian Week,... / Read More →

A slower summer vibe pervades the city in August, yet there’s still so much to do, from hard-rock and blues music festivals to world-class sports competitions to sampling the best in Montreal-made gourmet food.

(walk on the wild side)Heavy Montréal takes over from last weekend’s Osheaga festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau – hear metal, heavy rock, skate-punk and more from bands the likes of Metallica, Twisted Sister and The Offspring, August 8 in the city and August 9-10 at the park. For a lower-key kind of music festival, head to family-friendly FestiBlues at Ahuntsic Park, August 7-10, featuring rock, blues and folk from Quebec talents. Dance, party, make friends, hear thoughtful lectures and maybe even march in the parade at fiercely wonderful Montreal Pride 2014, August 11-17. And, taking this week’s Montreal-gone-wild theme literally, dinosaurs come to life, or at least animatronic re-existence, once more in multi-media spectacular Walking with Dinosaurs returns even bigger than before to the Bell Centre August 13-17 (English-language shows on August 14 and 17).

(cultural feasts) Experience the myriad fantastic flavours of Quebec-made fine food and drink at the Montreal Gourmand Festival, August 7-10 at the Old Port of Montreal. Take a stroll through Montreal’s Little Italy during Italian Week, August 8-17, and sample traditional and nouveau cuisine, hear music in the park, see art exhibitions and bocce tournaments and more. Meanwhile on Saturday, August 9, Montreal’s Japanese Culture Centre hosts the 13th Edition of their Matsuri Japon Festival, complete with Japanese food and drink, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations and more. Eat, drink and be entertained at two new outdoor markets in the city: downtown Montreal’s Village Éphémère just east of the Jacque-Cartier bridge (near Papineau metro station), open Thursdays to Sundays, and Mile End’s Marché des Possibles, open Friday to Sunday. Experience ocean-fresh bliss at one of Montreal’s oyster bars and open-air meals on a sunny restaurant patio. And make the day even sweeter with gourmet, all-natural ice cream.

(sports & family fun) The world’s top women’s tennis stars, including Montreal’s Eugenie Bouchard, play hard at the Rogers Cup to August 10 at Uniprix Stadium. A carnival atmosphere makes the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Summer Festival fun for all ages, all day on August 8 at the Olympic Park Esplanade – and anyone looking for vertical thrills should check out the awesome Exalto Park rope-climbing structures nearby. While inside Olympic Stadium, catch world-class soccer as the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup continues competition group matches this week on August 9 and 12. Over at Parc Jean-Drapeau’s Aquatic Complex, the 15th FINA World Masters Championships continues with swimming, diving and water polo competitions to August 10. And in weirder sports news, Montreal also hosts the Unicon 17 – Unicycle world Championships finals on August 10. Participate in a massive yoga class at the Lolë White Tour 2014 at the Old Port on the morning of August 9. Or take a bike ride, seek out the city’s swimming holes via our Swimming and Beach Guide, and find even more things to do in our Family Guide to Summer.

(more live music) Drift away on the adult-contemporary, new-age stylings of Yanni, mellowing out the Bell Centre for a few hours on Friday night. Saturday, August 9 brings Tyler Hilton, former “One Tree Hill” star and current musical talent, to Montreal with openers Justin Levinson and Anna Rose at L’Astral, while Strand of Oaks adds his fair share of hard-rock to folk-rock, with opener Christopher Denny, at Il Motore, the amazing FKA Twigs plays a now sold-out show at Cabaret du Mile End, and Montreal’s eclectic Essaie Pas captivate at La Vitrola – Saturday also marks the first day of the 19th edition of the Under Pressure Festival, celebrating local and international graffiti culture with art exhibitions, outdoor and indoor concerts, skate jams and more. Outdoor dance party Piknic Electronik stays on Île Ste-Hélène this Sunday but moves over to the Jardins Floralies (to make way for Heavy Montreal), harnessing the spirit of Thailand’s full-moon parties and featuring music from the good people at Music Is My Sanctuary. While outdoors at Olympic Park Esplanade on Sunday, hear the classical sounds of the Orchestre à Vents Péri-Phonique – and return to the Esplanade on August 14 for a free grand concert by conductor Kent Nagano and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. For even more classical music, make the short trip just outside of Montreal to the Festival de Lanaudière, the largest classical music festival in Canada, on until August 10. Monday night features Montreal experimenters Shalabi Effect along with Michael Foster, David Grollman & Ben Bennett Trio at Casa del Popolo. On August 13, legendary Canadian punk band Propagandhi shows us how it’s done – and in social-activist style to boot – with openers Rvivr and War on Women, at Club Soda, while B.C.-based psych-folk duo The Backhomes rock out at La Vitrola, just as Carolyn Mark and The New Best Friends along with Montreal’s 10,000 Horses charm us and entertain to no end at Casa Del Popolo, and Bob Log III lets the good times roll at Il Motore.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-8-14/feed/0Tiësto, Iggy Azalea and More at EDM Fest Île Soniqhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/tiesto-iggy-azalea-and-more-at-edm-fest-ile-soniq/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/tiesto-iggy-azalea-and-more-at-edm-fest-ile-soniq/#commentsThu, 07 Aug 2014 15:50:20 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=79021Montreal has always been a hot spot for club culture, from the days of disco to underground raves to state-of-the-art afterhours venues – this year the city’s electronic dance music scene kicks it up a notch with EDM and urban music festival Île Soniq. The very first edition of Île Soniq keeps festival-goers dancing August 15-16 at Parc Jean-Drapeau on the picturesque Île Sainte-Hélène, following two solid weekends of music at the park – indie-rock heavyweight Osheaga and metal and hard rock fest Heavy Montréal. With over 50 artists on three outdoor stages, from early afternoon to well past sunset, Île Soniq promises just as much constant entertainment, but this time, it’s all about the beat. Whether you’re at Île Soniq to dance, chill out or simply soak up the good vibes on a sunny day, you’re sure to find a sound that suits you. At the top of the festival’s electronic and hip-hop headliners sits long-time club shaker and anthemic beat maker Tiësto, Aussie hip-hop-meets-pop star Iggy Azalea, and prolific UK techno artist Jesse Rose, all making crowds go wild in different ways on Friday night. Saturday night’s no less wild with the good-time music of ultrapopular Filipino-Dutch DJ and producer... / Read More →

Montreal has always been a hot spot for club culture, from the days of disco to underground raves to state-of-the-art afterhours venues – this year the city’s electronic dance music scene kicks it up a notch with EDM and urban music festival Île Soniq.

The very first edition of Île Soniq keeps festival-goers dancing August 15-16 at Parc Jean-Drapeau on the picturesque Île Sainte-Hélène, following two solid weekends of music at the park – indie-rock heavyweight Osheaga and metal and hard rock fest Heavy Montréal. With over 50 artists on three outdoor stages, from early afternoon to well past sunset, Île Soniq promises just as much constant entertainment, but this time, it’s all about the beat.

Whether you’re at Île Soniq to dance, chill out or simply soak up the good vibes on a sunny day, you’re sure to find a sound that suits you. At the top of the festival’s electronic and hip-hop headliners sits long-time club shaker and anthemic beat maker Tiësto, Aussie hip-hop-meets-pop star Iggy Azalea, and prolific UK techno artist Jesse Rose, all making crowds go wild in different ways on Friday night. Saturday night’s no less wild with the good-time music of ultrapopular Filipino-Dutch DJ and producer Laidback Luke, the classic trance of Coachella favourites Infected Mushroom, Memphis-based rapper and co-founder of Three 6 Mafia Juicy J, the fast and furious rhythms of American producer Araabmuzik and West London dubstep producer Caspa.

Get to Île Soniq early on Friday afternoon as Australian Thomas Jack gets the festival spirit going with pop-like, hands-in-the-air light and breezy sounds of summertime and stick around for moombahcore main man Dillon Francis, Italian duo Vinai, and Dutch house DJ and producer Bingo Players. Saturday sees German trance duo Cosmic Gate on the main stage, Skrillex collaborators Kill the Noise, New Jersey pop-electro radio-friendly band Cash Cash, California’s genre-crossing Seven Lions, Italian producer Riva Starr, Kanye West collaborator Tyga and more.

Taking their rightful place among all the international talent at Île Soniq are numerous Canadian producers known for filling dance floors and capturing the attention of deep listeners in cities across the country and around the world. Locals are sure to fill the dancefloor on Friday night for hometown heroes Adventure Club as they spin a set of dubstep-influenced electro featuring guest DJs Snails, Botnek, the Chainsmokers and 3LAU, while Montreal’s Haffenfold mix experimental synth sounds with steady beats early on Friday afternoon on the Neon Stage and Andru entrances on the Superheroes Anonymous stage, followed by the hard and heavy bass of Snails. More not to miss: Toronto originals Zeds Dead and Torro Torro along with Montreal’s Vilify& Henward, No Kliché and many more electro music makers set to burn up Île Soniq’s open-air dancefloors.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/tiesto-iggy-azalea-and-more-at-edm-fest-ile-soniq/feed/010 Incredible Photos From Osheaga 2014 In Montrealhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-incredible-photos-from-osheaga-2014-in-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-incredible-photos-from-osheaga-2014-in-montreal/#commentsMon, 04 Aug 2014 19:17:40 +0000Alexander Dunphyhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=78889Thousands of music fans and countless rock stars had many ways to say their praise for Osheaga this past weekend into Montreal, but one the band members from the Glasgow-based Chvrches put it best: “This is about one of the best festivals in the world.” (The crowd obviously agreed by going wild.) Our talented photographers Eva Blue and Susan Moss were on the Osheaga site all weekend capturing moments from the crowd, stage, and pit! Take a look at the 10 best: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds rocks out to a huge crowd at Osheaga. (Photo by Eva Blue.) Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day) and The Replacements (Photo by Susan Moss) André 3000 and Big Boi of OutKast on the opening day of Osheaga 2014. (Photo by Eva Blue) Odesza on the Piknic Electronik Stage. (Photo by Eva Blue) Jack White shredding the guitar for an insane crowd. (Photo by Eva Blue) Chvrches killed it at Osheaga. They also said it was one of the best festivals in the world. We couldn’t agree more! (Photo by Eva Blue) The crowd receives a much needed spray down in the sweaty heat of a beautiful day in Montreal. (Photo by Susan Moss)... / Read More →

Thousands of music fans and countless rock stars had many ways to say their praise for Osheaga this past weekend into Montreal, but one the band members from the Glasgow-based Chvrches put it best: “This is about one of the best festivals in the world.” (The crowd obviously agreed by going wild.) Our talented photographers Eva Blue and Susan Moss were on the Osheaga site all weekend capturing moments from the crowd, stage, and pit! Take a look at the 10 best:

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds rocks out to a huge crowd at Osheaga. (Photo by Eva Blue.)
Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day) and The Replacements (Photo by Susan Moss)
André 3000 and Big Boi of OutKast on the opening day of Osheaga 2014. (Photo by Eva Blue)
Odesza on the Piknic Electronik Stage. (Photo by Eva Blue)
Jack White shredding the guitar for an insane crowd. (Photo by Eva Blue)
Chvrches killed it at Osheaga. They also said it was one of the best festivals in the world. We couldn’t agree more! (Photo by Eva Blue)
The crowd receives a much needed spray down in the sweaty heat of a beautiful day in Montreal. (Photo by Susan Moss)
Lorde called Osheaga the “prettiest festival” and had the crowd eating right out of her twitching hands during her hour-long set. (Photo by Eva Blue)
Tiga with a beautiful backdrop at Osheaga 2014. (Photo by Eva Blue)
The final show of Osheaga was an incredible set by the Arctic Monkeys. (Photo by Eva Blue)
All photos by Eva Blue & Susan Moss

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-incredible-photos-from-osheaga-2014-in-montreal/feed/0Things to Do in Montreal: August 1-7http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-1-7/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-1-7/#commentsThu, 31 Jul 2014 15:04:41 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=78754August happily arrives in Montreal to the tune of Osheaga’s three-day outdoor music festival alongside even more festivals filling the city with music, film, good food, and a fair amount of dancing in the streets… (sunshine & music) The massively popular and music-filled Osheaga festival packs the weekend with some of the best indie-rock, hip hop and electro music around – hear international Outkast, Skrillex, Jack White, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, The Replacements and more great international and local bands on six different stages at Parc Jean-Drapeau. LGBT festival Divers/Cité adds glam and dance beats to the Old Port’s Jacques Cartier Quay with Vendredi Tribal on August 1, a Sunset Party with Misstress Barbara and more on August 2, a Sunday afternoon Brazilian carnival followed by La Grande Danse finale show and dance party. Meanwhile, the MEG festival launches its annual MEG Boat on Saturday night, making waves to 3am with UK techno producer Benjamin Damage, French duo Acid Arab, DJ Marty McFly and DJ AKTA. (outdoor fun & food) Dozens of the city’s new food trucks gather for First Fridays at Olympic Park – sample gourmet fare from some of the city’s best chefs and street food with... / Read More →

August happily arrives in Montreal to the tune of Osheaga’s three-day outdoor music festival alongside even more festivals filling the city with music, film, good food, and a fair amount of dancing in the streets…

(sunshine & music) The massively popular and music-filled Osheaga festival packs the weekend with some of the best indie-rock, hip hop and electro music around – hear international Outkast, Skrillex, Jack White, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, The Replacements and more great international and local bands on six different stages at Parc Jean-Drapeau. LGBT festival Divers/Cité adds glam and dance beats to the Old Port’s Jacques Cartier Quay with Vendredi Tribal on August 1, a Sunset Party with Misstress Barbara and more on August 2, a Sunday afternoon Brazilian carnival followed by La Grande Danse finale show and dance party. Meanwhile, the MEG festival launches its annual MEG Boat on Saturday night, making waves to 3am with UK techno producer Benjamin Damage, French duo Acid Arab, DJ Marty McFly and DJ AKTA.

(outdoor fun & food) Dozens of the city’s new food trucks gather for First Fridays at Olympic Park – sample gourmet fare from some of the city’s best chefs and street food with a Montreal twist. Two outdoor markets add music, fresh food and more to the weekend: downtown Montreal’s Village Éphémère just east of the Jacque-Cartier bridge (near Papineau metro station), open Thursdays to Sundays, and Mile End’s Marché des Possibles, open Friday to Sunday. And for even more delicious adventures, try some of Montreal’s best oyster bars or opt for the best of a summer staple: ice cream.

(sports & open-air entertainment) Tennis fans rejoice as the Rogers Cup women’s championship – featuring Montreal tennis star Eugenie Bouchard – wows with world-class skill August 1-10 at Uniprix Stadium. The Olympic Park also hosts the Mini Rogers Cup tennis tournament for kids, while in the park’s esplanade, kids of all ages can try out the rope-climbing challenges of Parc Exalto. For more ideas on outdoor activities for the whole family, see our Family Guide to Summer 2014 and our Swimming and Beach Guide. Take a restful break as music and nature go together beautifully at the Botanical Garden, where this Sunday world-famous soprano Marie-Josée Lord performs a classical concert outdoors at 4 p.m. And the 30th edition of the International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks competition ends with the psychedelic bang of grand finale show Tribute to Pink Floyd, pairing the beloved band’s music with pyrotechnic feats.

(screen time) See dozens more wild and wonderful films during the final week of the 18th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, including Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank (starring Michael Fassbender), Abel Ferrara’s Welcome to New York, Keiichiro Kawaguchi’s animated Hunter X Hunter, Canadian comedy-horror WolfCop, Bradley King’s eerie Time Lapse, Dirty Movies: A History of the “Stag” Film, and many more features and short films from around the world. On August 5, Présence Autochtone, the Montreal First Peoples Festival, screens director Michel Poulette’s Maïna, an adventure tale of life in North American before European colonization – see it outdoors at Peace Park at 9pm. While inside the SAT’s Satosphere dome, see immersive musical film Harmonielehre, featuring the Montreal Symphony Orchestra playing a work by American composer John Adams. In the Old Port, catch two multimedia shows: archaeology exhibition Tutankhamen’s Treasures and the sensory-overload of Peur Dépôt. And along with a sold-out screening of Nick Cave’s 20,000 Days on Earth, the Phi Centre continues its monthly cinema series with Cannes favourite Chloé Robichaud’s Féminin/Féminin on August 5 at 7:30pm, Gillian Robespierre’s comedy Obvious Child on August 6, and Joe Swanberg’s Happy Christmas (featuring Lena Dunham) on August 7.

(more live music) On Friday night the MEG music festival joins the Montreal First Peoples Festival in their annual free “Électro-Choc” concert at downtown’s Place des Festivals, featuring Chris Derksen, DJ Shub and Parisian dance-music duo Acid Arab. The awesomely-named Rrroooaaarrr punk/rock/metal DIY-driven music festival comes to Casa del Popolo, Sala Rossa and Katacombes August 1-3, with dozens of bands playing loud, hard and in-your-face. American roots reggae band Groundation comes to town to get down, August 2 at Club Soda. Festival de Lanaudière, the largest classical music festival in Canada, continues just outside of Montreal, featuring German chamber music orchestra the Die Deutsche Kammerphilarmonie Bremen on August 2 and 3. Outdoor dance party Piknic Electronik has its own stage at Osheaga not only on Sunday but all weekend, always worth checking out for a good, sweaty time. Also outdoors on Sunday, the Harmonie Calixa Lavallée de Sorel orchestra plays at Olympic Park Esplanade. Monday, August 4 sees Ian Svenonius return to Montreal with his newest band of noise rebels Chain & The Gang, with openers Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, and The Famines at Divan Orange, while hard-rockin’ metal-tinged Norma Jean and Night Verses hit Il Motore. On August 5, it’s New Zealand folk-pop sensations Tiny Ruins at Casa Del Popolo. And on Wednesday, August 6, check out Los Angeles indie-rockers Wildcat! Wildcat! at La Vitrola.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-august-1-7/feed/0The Blues Rocks the Park at FestiBlues Internationalhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/the-blues-rocks-the-park-at-festiblues-international/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/the-blues-rocks-the-park-at-festiblues-international/#commentsTue, 29 Jul 2014 21:16:12 +0000Robyn Faddenhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=78740Get to know Montreal’s blues-infused rock and folk music at FestiBlues, four hot August nights of live performances outdoors in the park and late into the night at several nearby bars and restaurants… One of the city’s most laid-back, family-friendly summer music fests, FestiBlues International de Montreal sets the bar high for good times once again in its 17th edition, August 7-10 at Ahuntsic Park (just steps away from Henri-Bourassa metro station) and in the surrounding neighbourhood, where French and English-language music meet up to create a truly unique event. Whether you’re familiar with the artists playing FestiBlues or not, the extremely affordable ticket price of $7 a night or $18 for all four evenings can’t be beat – as a bonus for families, kids 12 years old and under get in for free. Discover new music and hang out with local fans from 6pm on, starting with Thursday night’s star-studded line-up: pop-rock singer-songwriter Oliver Charles kicks the show off, followed by this year’s La Voix (Quebec’s version of TV show The Voice) fave Marie-Eve Fournier, Québécois slam hip-hop team David Goudreault and Matthieu Lippé, and the dance-party electro-pop grooves of Misteur Valaire. Friday night begins with charming singer-guitarist Carlos Veiga,... / Read More →

Get to know Montreal’s blues-infused rock and folk music at FestiBlues, four hot August nights of live performances outdoors in the park and late into the night at several nearby bars and restaurants…

One of the city’s most laid-back, family-friendly summer music fests, FestiBlues International de Montreal sets the bar high for good times once again in its 17th edition, August 7-10 at Ahuntsic Park (just steps away from Henri-Bourassa metro station) and in the surrounding neighbourhood, where French and English-language music meet up to create a truly unique event.

Whether you’re familiar with the artists playing FestiBlues or not, the extremely affordable ticket price of $7 a night or $18 for all four evenings can’t be beat – as a bonus for families, kids 12 years old and under get in for free. Discover new music and hang out with local fans from 6pm on, starting with Thursday night’s star-studded line-up: pop-rock singer-songwriter Oliver Charles kicks the show off, followed by this year’s La Voix (Quebec’s version of TV show The Voice) fave Marie-Eve Fournier, Québécois slam hip-hop team David Goudreault and Matthieu Lippé, and the dance-party electro-pop grooves of Misteur Valaire.

Friday night begins with charming singer-guitarist Carlos Veiga, playing songs from his new album Paroles, followed by French hip-hop group Scarecrow, who fuse urban rap with country-blues to create a modern sound all their own. Later see legendary Quebecois crooner Mario Saint-Amand, while award-winning blues singer Marc Dupré ends the evening joined by more exceptional singer vocal from La Voix. Saturday’s standouts include Montreal favourite Jordan Officer, playing guitar-drenched blues songs from his latest album, and great storytelling bluesman Daniel Bélanger. And on Sunday, don’t miss the return of Franco-Australian blues-rock duo Mountain Men and the grand finale with the “Louis Armstrong of Quebec” Brian Tyler and all kinds of musical guests.

Along with all that music in the park, seven restaurants and bars on and around nearby Fleury Street make FestiBlues a late-night affair, featuring shows every night starting at 11pm. Hear more uniquely Quebecois music, from toe-tapping blues-rock to Americana with a French-Canadian twist to the sound of mainstage acts like Mountain Men and Laurent Thomas in a more intimate venue. Indoors and under sunny skies, FestiBlues adds yet another flavour to Montreal’s festival season, complete with its own signature social atmosphere.